In most cases, it's the carpeneter. In this case, it's the saw.

Two of my favorite records ("It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back", "Songs About Fucking") were recorded using drum machines. Nevertheless, drum machines are, and always will be, CRAP.

Salut, Redline! So great idea for topic!

agreed crap, it can be used for good, as mentioned above (tho I dunno about PE, but whatever) 99% its used for crap

so it is crap

crazy crap

My vote on the Big Black post didn't count, so-

CRAP!

Good as a metronome or home demo recording tool only, Joe, no need to tippy toe. Steve would probably be the first to admit drum machines blow.

Slight waffle for drum machines that DON'T sound like drums, like Suicide, Timmy Thomas "Why Can't We Live Together?", and that song "Popcorn". That was dope...

Jay

NOT CRAP

If you want a drummer, get a drummer. Don't replace a drummer with a drum machine. They are two different animals. But a drum machine can be very great (1950's Wurlitzer Sideman for instance) as long as you do not want it to be a drummer. It is not a drummer. Have I made that clear? Drum machine = one thing. Drummer = another thing. It is yet another tool that can be used for good and also for bad, like the guitar (ever hear of Joe Satriani or Warrent? PU!)

It's like those damn veggie hot dogs called 'Not Dogs'. They are actually pretty tasty but they ARE NOT HOT DOGS!! THEY ARE NOT EVEN REPLACEMENTS FOR HOT DOGS! They are two different things! You want a hot dog? Then GET A HOT DOG!!!

OH, one more thing. Not all drum machines are by definition tempo or beat keepers. The 1950's Wurlitzer Sideman has some 'pre-programmed beats' but it's strength is when those are turned off and you use the buttons to play your own beats with the freaky vacuum tube sounds. There is also a 60's Vox drum machine that has no beats at all, just a bunch of buttons with corresponding sounds and also two foot pedals that you can assign sounds too by using rocker swithes. Again, not all drum machines are beat or tempo driven units. These two still need someone to 'play' them in real time.

Song about fucking = fucking great songs!
Misfortunement this is my only Big Black's album, the others never find here in Italy.
This album has pushed to me to create the other topic on the tech room...
Obviously, not crap.

cià

Agreeing with Mayfair on this one - NOT CRAP and not a drummer. I love drum machines because if I want to have someone play a kick drum for twenty minutes absolutely in time and without twirling sticks in the meantime, drum machine's gonna do that. If I want someone to start shouting D&D references in the middle of a slow jam, drummer will do that. I like trying out patterns in mathematical ways on a drum machine and then asking drummers to approximate them. You can get some great sounds that way.

Dylan wrote: I love drum machines because if I want to have someone play a kick drum for twenty minutes absolutely in time and without twirling sticks in the meantime, drum machine's gonna do that.

Ditto.

I also enjoy playing the pre-programmed beats on beat-up 80's retail keyboards, starting off with the rock beat, holding down the touch-sensitive drumfill cue and then pushing the samba button etcetera.

Playing the pre-programmed selection mechanism can be fun!

Mr. Chimp wrote:

Dylan wrote: I love drum machines because if I want to have someone play a kick drum for twenty minutes absolutely in time and without twirling sticks in the meantime, drum machine's gonna do that.

Ditto.

I also enjoy playing the pre-programmed beats on beat-up 80's retail keyboards, starting off with the rock beat, holding down the touch-sensitive drumfill cue and then pushing the samba button etcetera.

Playing the pre-programmed selection mechanism can be fun!

The last song on Trans Am's first album contains one of those Casio keyboard "demo" tunes. I remember playing with this dinky little keyboard a few years back and hearing Trans Am come out of it. Pretty freaky to hear it in that order...

Dylan wrote:Agreeing with Mayfair on this one - NOT CRAP and not a drummer. I love drum machines because if I want to have someone play a kick drum for twenty minutes absolutely in time and without twirling sticks in the meantime, drum machine's gonna do that. If I want someone to start shouting D&D references in the middle of a slow jam, drummer will do that. I like trying out patterns in mathematical ways on a drum machine and then asking drummers to approximate them. You can get some great sounds that way.

What he said.